As the number of homeless people rises in Dallas and Collin counties, the population is spreading into more cities, newly released figures show.

For the second year in a row, the number of homeless people in the two counties increased 9 percent, officials said Thursday at Dallas' annual State of the Homeless address. The total homeless population counted in 19 cities in the counties was 4,538, up from 4,140 in 2018.

Of the total, 1,452 people were unsheltered homeless — those who don't seek housing in shelters and live on the streets. That number is up 111 people over last year. People in emergency shelters account for about half the total, which also includes people in safe haven and transitional housing.

Data from the point-in-time count, a one-night census of the homeless conducted in January, shows the number of people without shelter increased in most of the cities where counts took place.

Some that found no homeless people in last year's census— Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Allen and Nevada — had counts to report in 2019.

Although the populations in some suburbs still numbered fewer than 10, the overall upward trend in the counties' homeless numbers discouraged advocates.

"I'm done stepping over people sleeping on the sidewalks," said Carl Falconer, who became Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance's president and chief executive in November.

The data show that the chronically homeless population — individuals with a disability who have experienced homelessness for at least a year — has grown by 11 percent.

The number of homeless veterans also spiked. The 23 percent increase means more than one in 10 homeless people in Dallas and Collin counties is a veteran.

"We have got to figure out what's going on here," Falconer said of the 431 former service members who were found in the January count. "Veterans are one of the few populations that actually have resources available to them."

Spencer Cardwell took a moment on his couch at his encampment during the annual homeless count in Dallas on Jan. 24.

(Shaban Athuman/Staff Photographer)

Kim Henderson looks around as she smokes a cigarette in her encampment under a bridge during the annual homeless count in Dallas on Jan. 24.

(Shaban Athuman/Staff Photographer)

Volunteers Elizabeth Anderson (left) and Cindy Rubin search Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy for people experiencing homelessness during Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance's annual count in Dallas on Jan. 24. The group, which didn't find anyone, started off at First United Methodist Church Dallas where they received some training before they left for their area near Hillcrest High School.

(Daniel Carde/Staff Photographer)

Despite the bad news, some at the event Thursday said they took hope in Falconer's recent appointment to lead Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance.

"It's disheartening to see a 9 percent increase again," said Erin Moore, a candidate for the Dallas City Council's District 9 seat. "I think the increase was because of temporary gaps in [Homeless Alliance] leadership. I'm happy to see a passionate leader in Carl. His attitude and focus on rapid rehousing were the biggest positives today."

Short-term rapid rehousing helps people find places to live quickly without imposing significant restrictions such as job requirements. But that category accounts for only 6 percent of the total beds in Dallas' homeless response system.

Right now, 42 percent of beds are dedicated to emergency housing, but that is a more expensive option than short-term rapid rehousing and provides less of a return on the investment, Falconer said.

His goal is to coordinate the many local efforts that provide support systems, training and information.

"We need to agree on one strategic plan, and most of this is already being worked on," he said. "But we need one page to sing from."

Angela Gort of Dallas' Office of Homeless Solutions said she agreed with a lot of the plans set forth in Falconer's address.

"The situation here needs to be rectified," she said. "We as a community need to do something. It's not one person's problem; it's everyone's problem."

Not all the news in the homeless count was bad. The number reported in Irving dropped from 39 last year to 22. Plano found 47 people this year, compared with 80 in 2018.

And Falconer said that though Dallas continues to fall short of its needs for affordable housing, some trends in real estate may offer creative solutions.

For example, he said, gentrification poses a challenge to affordable housing, but city leaders can figure low- and mixed-income opportunities into neighborhoods to provide new opportunities for permanent shelter.

Among the people attending the address at Goodwill Industries of Dallas was C. Leon Holeman, who has overcome homelessness and is pursuing graduate studies.

"I'm glad there's an ongoing effort to actually solve the problem," he said. "But the problem is getting worse, when you look at the data."